Local News
Video shows man nearly hit by helicopter during crash in Huntington Beach near Los Angeles
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — A dramatic video captured the moment a helicopter narrowly missed striking a bystander before crashing near a crowded event in Huntington Beach on Saturday afternoon, prompting authorities to declare a mass casualty incident and hospitalize three people.
The incident occurred around 2:09 p.m., according to dispatch information from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The helicopter went down near the Waterfront Beach Resort along Pacific Coast Highway, in close proximity to the popular Cars and Copters on the Coast event — an annual showcase that attracts thousands of spectators to view helicopters and luxury vehicles.
Footage obtained shows the helicopter flying at a low altitude before suddenly losing control and dropping sharply toward the ground.
The aircraft crashed near the roadway, scattering debris across Pacific Coast Highway and into nearby trees adjacent to the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa.
Emergency responders from the Huntington Beach Police Department, the Orange County Fire Authority, and emergency medical teams rushed to the scene within minutes.
The helicopter came to rest wedged among trees, forcing first responders to secure the wreckage while providing immediate medical care to victims.
Authorities confirmed that two individuals were on board the helicopter at the time of the crash — both survived and managed to exit the wreckage.
However, three pedestrians standing nearby sustained injuries from the impact and were transported to local hospitals. Officials have not yet released updates on their conditions.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and disbelief as the helicopter descended toward the crowd. One attendee recalled,
“A couple minutes sooner and we would’ve been involved in this accident. It’s unreal — we had just crossed that same walkway two minutes before it happened.”
Police temporarily closed portions of Pacific Coast Highway and surrounding areas as crews conducted rescue operations and cleared debris. Event organizers have been cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues.
Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and will lead a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash, including possible mechanical failure or pilot error.
As of Saturday evening, no fatalities have been reported. Officials emphasized that the situation could have been significantly worse given the large number of attendees at the event.
“This could have been a far greater tragedy,” one official stated. “We are grateful for the quick response of first responders and the cooperation of everyone involved during this emergency.”
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.